The Russian ambassador to Washington has pointed fingers at U.S. training practices following the fatal crash of a Ukrainian F-16 pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Oleksiy Mes, on August 26. Known by his call sign “Moonfish,” Mes was a prominent figure in Ukraine’s advocacy for fighter jets, often appearing in the media and pushing for support during visits to the U.S. capital.
In a statement on the Russian Embassy’s Telegram channel, Ambassador Anatoly Antonov criticized the insufficient training provided to Ukrainian pilots, claiming that U.S. and local instructors have not effectively prepared them for flying the advanced aircraft. He suggested that if the aircraft had been shot down by Russian forces, it would have drawn significant outrage.
Mes’s death was a setback for Ukraine’s military efforts, especially as it has recently begun receiving F-16s, which are more advanced than its previous Soviet-era jets. In the aftermath of the crash, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made the decision to dismiss Mykola Oleshchuk, head of the air force.
Adding to the controversy, Ukrainian lawmaker Mariana Bezuhla alleged that the F-16 was accidentally shot down by a Patriot missile. Oleshchuk has rejected her claims, accusing her of undermining military confidence.
The incident is under investigation, with no official information on the crash’s location or circumstances released by Ukraine’s General Staff. Both the U.S. and Ukraine are working together on this inquiry, as discussed in a recent meeting between Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Ukrainian Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov.
Ukraine had received six of the promised F-16s earlier in August as part of a total of 45 pledged by its allies, making the recent loss especially concerning regarding NATO’s confidence in Ukraine’s ability to manage advanced weaponry. Mes had undergone a condensed training program at Denmark’s Skrydstrup base, highlighting the complexities of operating these sophisticated aircraft.